Automatic conveying apparatus for JEDEC carrier members

A conveying apparatus for sequentially feeding a plurality of stacked carrier members, said conveying apparatus comprising:

• a first bin for storing a desired quantity of stackable carrier members, said first bin having an outlet for sequentially discharging a carrier member therefrom;
• a feed mechanism communicating with said outlet of said first bin, and said feed mechanism facilitating individual feeding of said carrier members, in a sequential manner, from said first bin during use;
• a conveyor mechanism communicating with said outlet of said first bin for receiving one carrier member, fed by said feed mechanism, and for conveying said carrier member to an assembly area where a plurality of components can be one of retrieved from said carrier member to manufacture a desired product and loaded on said carrier member for later manufacture of a desired product;
• a second bin for collecting each said carrier member returned by said conveyor mechanism from said assembly area, and said second bin having an inlet located adjacent said conveyor mechanism;
• and
• a transfer assembly for transferring carrier members from said first bin to said feed mechanism and for transferring each said carrier member, returned by said conveyor mechanism from said assembly area, to the second bin.